A LABOURER refuted the suggestion that a mix of cocaine and 25 pints of lager prompted him to push a woman into a busy Darlington road during the early hours of Christmas Day.

Gareth Harrison, 33, of Dodds Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assault and was ordered to pay £1,600 in compensation to his victim but maintains that he was provoked into the attack.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that Harrison had been drinking with colleagues since 3pm on Christmas Eve, 2016, in Darlington town centre.

At around 1.45am on Christmas Day, Harrison pushed to the front of a queue for a burger van parked on Blackwellgate, outside Avalon, which led to an argument with a group of revellers.

The court heard that two women who had also been drinking together that night had “fairly and politely” pointed out that Harrison should not be served next.

Rachel Dodsworth, prosecuting, read out a victim personal statement in court and said: “The male lunged forwards towards [one of women] and in order to protect her, I’ve stepped in front of the male.

“I was facing the burger van and with my back to [Blackwellgate] and he was facing me and he pushed me back into the road.

“I recall going backwards before hitting the road. I put my left hand behind me to break the fall and I felt my wrist hit the ground.

“I ended up laying on the floor for a few seconds before my friends helped me up.”

The women suffered a displaced wrist fracture during the incident and was treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital on Christmas Day morning.

A report prepared by probation officers stated: “He consumed a considerable amount of alcohol – around 25 pints of lager.

“Mr Harrison also admits to using cocaine on that occasion, although he doesn’t accept that this affected his behaviour.

“He said that he walked to the front of the queue and he was approached by the two women and that one pushed him and that triggered an argument and he pushed both females.”

Ben Pegman, mitigating, said that Harrison was “genuinely sorry” for the assault.

Harrison was handed an 18-month community order with a curfew for eight weeks.

He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.